Pharmacy type
Community
Pharmacy context
This community pharmacy is located in the town centre opposite to a medical centre. Most people who use the pharmacy are from the local area and a home delivery service is available. The pharmacy dispenses NHS prescriptions and it sells a range of over-the-counter medicines.
Relevant standards
- 4.2 - Pharmacy services are managed and delivered safely and effectively
Why this is notable practice
The pharmacy carries out a thorough assessment of the patient’s needs when a multi-compartment compliance pack is requested. This helps to identify the most appropriate adjustment, which is not necessarily a compliance pack. The assessment is documented, and the patient is monitored, and compliance is reviewed to ensure the adjustment is appropriate and effective.
How the pharmacy did this
An assessment was made by the pharmacist as to the suitability of a compliance pack, or if other adjustments might be more appropriate to the person’s needs. Other options explored included helping to manage the person’s repeat prescriptions and providing medicine administration record (MAR) charts with their medicines in their original boxes. This was often found to be more effective than using compliance aid packs and helped the person to retain some independence. The assessment process usually involved a conversation with the person as well as their carer or relatives. Assessments were documented on a designated form to provide a record which could be reviewed. The patient was monitored to check the adjustment was working well for them.
What difference this made to patients
The person has the most appropriate adjustment for their needs and their compliance is monitored and reviewed.
Highlighted standards
We have identified the standards most likely and least likely to be met in inspections, and highlighted examples of notable practice for each of these standards; to help everyone learn from others and to support continuous improvement: